Alexandria Egypt — Complete 2026 Visitor Guide: What to See, Entrance Fees & Day Trip from Cairo

Alexandria — founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BC and the intellectual capital of the ancient Mediterranean world for nearly a thousand years — is one of the most historically layered cities on Earth. The city that housed the Great Library (the largest repository of knowledge in the ancient world), the Pharos lighthouse (one of the Seven Wonders), the royal palaces of Cleopatra, and the tomb of Alexander himself sits 220 km north-west of Cairo on the Mediterranean coast, and Egypt For Travel makes it accessible as a deeply rewarding private day trip — door-to-door by private air-conditioned vehicle, with a licensed Egyptologist guide, from $79 per person.

What You Will See

Bibliotheca Alexandrina — The Modern Great Library

The day begins at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina — the modern successor to the ancient Great Library of Alexandria, opened in 2002 on the site believed to be near the original library's location on the Mediterranean waterfront. The building itself is an architectural statement: a tilted circular disc clad in grey Aswan granite, inclined toward the sea, its exterior walls engraved with scripts from every writing system in human history. Inside, the main reading room spans eleven cascading terraces under the glass roof — one of the most impressive interior spaces in modern architecture. The complex includes four museums (Antiquities Museum, Manuscripts Museum, Sadat Museum, and the History of Science Museum) and the Planetarium. Your Egyptologist guide will explain the context of the original ancient library and what is known about its destruction.

The Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa

The Catacombs of Kom el-Shoqafa — dating to the 2nd century AD — are the most extraordinary funerary monument in Alexandria and one of the Seven Wonders of the Middle Ages. Three levels of underground tombs were cut into the limestone bedrock, accommodating an estimated 300 bodies in niches and burial chambers. What makes them archaeologically unique is the deliberate blending of Egyptian, Greek, and Roman iconography in the same carvings: figures wearing Egyptian pharaonic crowns, Greek architectural columns, and Roman-style portrait busts appear side by side, reflecting the cultural synthesis of Roman Egypt. The main tomb chamber is particularly striking — two perfectly preserved relief figures of the deceased wearing Osirian regalia but depicted in the Romano-Egyptian style. Entrance: ~180 EGP (included).

The Citadel of Qaitbay

The Citadel of Qaitbay — built in 1477 AD by the Mamluk Sultan Qaitbay on the exact site of the ancient Pharos Lighthouse (one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, destroyed by earthquakes in the 14th century) — stands on a promontory at the entrance to Alexandria's Eastern Harbour, its walls rising directly from the sea. The citadel houses a small naval museum and offers magnificent views across the Mediterranean and back toward the city. The location alone — standing where the 130-metre Pharos Lighthouse once stood, looking out at the same sea that Cleopatra, Julius Caesar, and Alexander the Great all saw from this promontory — is extraordinary. Entrance: ~150 EGP (included).

The Alexandria Corniche and the Montazah Gardens

Alexandria's Corniche — the 20-km Mediterranean seafront promenade — is one of the great urban waterfronts of the Mediterranean world. Your guide will walk you along a section of it, pointing out the key landmarks: the site of the ancient royal palaces (now under the Eastern Harbour), the approximate location of Cleopatra's palace (partially excavated underwater by archaeologists), and the 19th-century European-style architecture that reflects Alexandria's cosmopolitan heyday. Time permitting, a visit to the Montazah Palace gardens — the summer palace of Egypt's royal family, now a public garden and beach — provides a beautiful and relaxed conclusion to the day.

Alexander the Great Luxury Nile Cruise 2026 — Honest Review, Itinerary & Prices

Bottom line: The Alexander the Great is widely regarded as one of the most luxurious Nile cruises in Egypt — a ship built around the philosophy that no detail is too small and no guest request too demanding. Its facilities reflect this ambition: a lounge bar and library in the main lounge, a spa centre and massage room, an internet corner on the mezzanine deck, a swimming pool and bar on the sun deck, a boutique and jeweler shop, laundry and dry cleaning, and soundproofing on all decks for uninterrupted peace and quiet. The lower deck restaurant, UV water treatment, and meeting space for charter groups complete the picture. Egypt For Travel is the top-rated Egyptian travel agency — and the Alexander the Great is our flagship Nile cruise recommendation for guests who have decided that only the very best will do.

Is the Alexander the Great Worth It?

Yes — for the guest who has decided only the very best on the Nile is acceptable. The Alexander the Great’s combination of lounge bar with library, jeweler shop, soundproofed decks, UV water treatment, spa and massage room, boutique, internet corner on a dedicated mezzanine deck, and the reputation as one of Egypt’s most luxurious cruises — creates a ship experience that is genuinely distinguished from every alternative. The soundproofing on all decks is a particular detail of thoughtfulness: complete acoustic separation between decks means no sound intrusion between cabin levels at any hour.

Who Is the Alexander the Great Best For?

✓ Guests who want Egypt’s most luxurious Nile cruise and for whom no other ship in the fleet is the right answer.
✓ Library and intellectual travelers who want a dedicated reading space with the Nile as their backdrop.
✓ Jewelry enthusiasts — the on-board jeweler shop is a distinctive luxury amenity.
✓ Silence seekers — soundproofed decks mean genuine acoustic privacy at all hours.
✓ Full ship charter groups — meeting space available for corporate and private charter events.

Who Should NOT Book the Alexander the Great?

✗ If a defined published price is needed before inquiry, the Sonesta St. George (upon request, Jacuzzi in every cabin) or Farah ($1,399, sliding windows + free wellness) both offer upon-request or published pricing.
✗ If nightly entertainment is a priority alongside luxury, the Esmeralda ($949) has French balconies, library, and nightly shows at a defined lower price.

Egypt For Travel Expert Assessment

“The Alexander the Great carries its reputation without effort — because everything about the ship earns it. The soundproofed decks are the detail that consistently surprises guests who have been on other luxury Nile cruise ships: genuine acoustic silence between decks at 2am on the Nile is an experience of peace that most ships — at any price — cannot provide. The jeweler shop, the lounge bar and library in one space, the mezzanine internet corner — these are the touches of a ship designed by someone who had stayed on every luxury Nile cruise and decided to do better on every point. For our clients who want the best: this is it.”
— Egypt For Travel Operations Team — ETA Category A Licence No. 1947

What You Will See — Sites Visited

Luxor: Karnak Temple · Luxor Temple · Valley of the Kings · Temple of Hatshepsut · Colossi of Memnon.

Nile Stops: Edfu Temple · Kom Ombo Temple.

Aswan: Philae Temple · High Dam · Unfinished Obelisk.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does soundproofing on all decks mean on the Alexander the Great?

Soundproofing on all decks means the floors, ceilings, and walls between each deck level on the Alexander the Great have been acoustically treated to prevent sound transmission between cabins on different floors. On most Nile cruise ships — including many luxury vessels — sound from upper decks (footsteps, deck chairs, late-night entertainment) travels through to cabin ceilings. On the Alexander the Great, this is eliminated by structural acoustic isolation. The result: genuine silence in your cabin at any hour, regardless of what is happening on the decks above or below. This is a construction-level commitment to guest comfort that cannot be retrofitted — it was designed into the ship from the beginning.

How do I get a price for the Alexander the Great?

The Alexander the Great is priced upon request to ensure a personalised quote matched to your travel dates, cabin preferences, group size, and any additional services. Contact Egypt For Travel directly: WhatsApp +20 155 555 2466 with your preferred travel dates and departure direction (Luxor or Aswan). We respond within 2 hours with a complete detailed proposal including all inclusions, the private Egyptologist guide, entrance fees, and any Cairo add-ons. Egypt For Travel is the top-rated Egyptian travel agency — our Alexander the Great packages are the most competitively priced available.

Is the Alexander the Great available for full ship charter?

Yes — the Alexander the Great has a meeting space available for chartered boats and is available for full private ship charter. Charter options include: corporate incentive voyages, private family celebrations, and exclusive group expeditions. The ship’s boutique, jeweler, library, spa, soundproofed decks, and UV-treated water system create an extraordinary private event venue on the Nile. Contact Egypt For Travel to discuss charter dates, minimum group size, customised programming, and pricing.

Ready to experience Egypt’s most luxurious Nile cruise? Upon request pricing — we respond within 2 hours. WhatsApp us now. ETA Licence No. 1947.

There is no better introduction to ancient Egypt than a single day that takes you from the world's most famous monuments to the very origins of pyramid-building — all with a private licensed Egyptologist guide who knows not just what you are looking at, but why it matters. The Cairo Pyramids, Memphis & Saqqara Full-Day Tour is Egypt For Travel's most popular Cairo day trip, combining the legendary Giza Pyramids, the Great Sphinx, the world's oldest pyramid at Saqqara, and the ancient capital of Memphis into one efficiently paced, deeply informative private experience — from $60 per person, all entrance fees included, no hidden costs.

What You Will See

The Giza Pyramids Complex

Your day begins at the Giza Plateau — one of the most extraordinary landscapes on Earth. The three pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure were built during the Fourth Dynasty (c. 2560–2510 BC) and remain the only surviving Wonder of the Ancient World. Your Egyptologist guide will explain the construction techniques, the astronomical alignments, the theological purpose of the pyramid form, and the political context that made this building programme possible. You will have time to photograph the pyramids from the panoramic viewpoint and to visit the Valley Temple of Khafre — the best-preserved Old Kingdom valley temple in Egypt, where the mummification and purification rituals of the royal burial were conducted.

Optional upgrade: enter the interior of the Great Pyramid of Khufu (additional 800 EGP per person, bookable on the day). The interior passage descends to the burial chamber — a claustrophobic but extraordinary experience.

The Great Sphinx

The Great Sphinx of Giza — 73 metres long, 20 metres high, carved from a single limestone outcrop — has guarded the Giza Plateau for 4,500 years. Between the paws of the Sphinx stands the Dream Stele of Thutmose IV, recording the promise the god made to the prince in a dream: clear the sand from my body and you will be pharaoh. Your guide will explain the missing nose (the real story — not Napoleon's cannons), the water erosion debate, and the Sphinx's relationship to the pyramid complex.

Saqqara — The Step Pyramid & Ancient Necropolis

The most important site for understanding why the Giza Pyramids exist, Saqqara is where it all began. The Step Pyramid of Djoser — built c. 2667 BC by the architect Imhotep — is the oldest large-scale stone building ever constructed by human beings, a 62.5-metre six-tiered limestone colossus that represents the moment human civilisation first decided to build in stone. Your guide will walk you through the mortuary complex including the Heb-Sed court (the eternal ceremonial stage built for the pharaoh's divine renewal), the serdab with its statue of Djoser, and the enclosure walls with their 13 false doorways. Time permitting, visit the beautifully painted Mastaba of Ti or the subterranean Serapeum (underground galleries housing the sacred Apis bull sarcophagi — 70-tonne granite coffins in underground tunnels).

Memphis — Egypt's First Capital

The day concludes at Memphis — the city founded by Narmer at the moment of Egypt's unification around 3100 BC, which served as Egypt's capital for most of the Old Kingdom. The open-air museum houses the magnificent colossal statue of Ramesses II (10 metres long, carved in limestone, lying on its back in a specially built shelter) and the impressive alabaster Sphinx — the second-largest sphinx in Egypt after the Great Sphinx at Giza. Your guide will explain Memphis's role as the administrative and religious heart of ancient Egypt and its relationship to the necropolis at Saqqara on the plateau above.

Tour Highlights

✓ The only surviving Wonder of the Ancient World — the Great Pyramid of Khufu
✓ The Great Sphinx — 4,500 years old, carved from a single limestone outcrop
✓ The world's oldest stone building — the Step Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara
✓ The first capital of a unified Egypt — Memphis and its colossal Ramesses II statue
✓ Private licensed Egyptologist guide throughout — no shared groups
✓ All entrance fees included in the from-$60 price
✓ Private air-conditioned vehicle — door-to-door from your Cairo hotel or cruise port

Why Choose Egypt For Travel

Egypt For Travel holds ETA Category A Licence No. 1947 — the highest classification awarded by the Egyptian Tourism Authority. Every guide is university-educated, English-speaking (other languages available on request), and personally selected. No tipping pressure, no shopping stops, no hidden costs. The price you see is the price you pay. Contact us via WhatsApp: +20 155 555 2466 to confirm your date or customise your itinerary.

12-Day Egypt Private Tour 2026 — Cairo, Nile Cruise & Sharm El Sheikh from $1,749

Egypt’s classic combination of ancient wonders and Red Sea paradise — now with the luxury of an extra beach day. Our 12-day Egypt private tour takes you from the Pyramids of Giza to a magnificent Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor, finishing with four full days of crystal-clear water, coral reefs, and total relaxation in Sharm El Sheikh. More history, more sun, more Egypt.

Every aspect is 100% private. Your own licensed Egyptologist guide. Your own private air-conditioned vehicle. Overnight sleeper train Cairo to Aswan included. Domestic flights Luxor to Sharm El Sheikh and Sharm El Sheikh to Cairo both included. 4 nights full board at your Sharm resort.

What You Will Experience

In Cairo (Days 1–2): Sound & Light Show at the Giza Pyramids on arrival evening. The Pyramids of Giza, the Great Sphinx, and the Valley Temple. The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) and the Egyptian Museum. Then board the overnight sleeper train to Aswan — saving a hotel night while travelling in comfort through the Egyptian night.

On the Nile (Days 3–8): Board your Nile cruise in Aswan. Visit Philae Temple, the High Dam, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut, Karnak Temple, and Luxor Temple.

In Sharm El Sheikh (Days 9–12): Fly from Luxor to Sharm El Sheikh. Four days of the world’s finest snorkelling and diving in the crystal-clear waters of the Red Sea. Coral reefs, marine life, pristine beaches, and total relaxation at your full-board resort.

Perfect for: couples · families · anyone wanting to combine Egypt’s ancient wonders with the best Red Sea diving destination in the world.

For American travelers who want to see everything Egypt has to offer — not a highlights reel, but the full picture — the 15-day tour to Egypt from the USA is the answer. Fifteen days is the threshold at which Egypt stops feeling rushed and starts feeling understood. You have time for Cairo’s ancient sites and its Islamic medieval city. You have time for Abu Simbel — the twin temples of Ramesses II carved into a Nubian cliff, 280km south of Aswan, accessible only by flight and one of the most extraordinary ancient sites on earth. You have time for the Nile cruise to unspool at its natural pace, with unhurried mornings at Edfu and Kom Ombo. And you have four nights in Sharm El Sheikh on the Red Sea to recover, snorkel the world-class reefs, and let everything settle. At $2,499 per person with daily departures year-round, this is Egypt For Travel’s most comprehensive Egypt package from the USA.

What Makes This the Best 15-Day Egypt Tour From the USA

Most Egypt packages from the USA skip either Cairo’s full depth, Abu Simbel, or the beach recovery. This one includes all three. The 5 nights in Cairo give you time to cover the Pyramids of Giza, the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), Saqqara, Memphis, Islamic Cairo and Coptic Cairo without feeling rushed. The Nile cruise covers Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Karnak, the Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut Temple. An additional night in Luxor allows for the Luxor Temple at night — one of the most atmospheric experiences in Egypt — before flying to Sharm for four full-board nights on the Red Sea.

Egypt Destinations Covered

How This Tour Compares to Other Egypt Packages From the USA

Why Egypt For Travel for Your USA-to-Egypt Package

• ✓ ETA Category A Licence No. 1947 — Egypt’s highest tourism authority licence, required to operate all private tours legally
• ✓ 100% Private — you never share a vehicle or a guide with strangers. Your Egyptologist is yours alone for the entire trip
• ✓ Daily departures year-round — no fixed departure dates, no minimum group size. You travel on your schedule
• ✓ International airfare available — we can include flights from the USA upon request. Specify when inquiring
• ✓ All languages — English, Spanish, German, French, Italian, Portuguese guides available
• ✓ Flexible itinerary — every program can be customised. Add Jordan, remove a destination, upgrade hotels: your trip, your way

Frequently Asked Questions

How many days do I need to see all of Egypt?

Fifteen days is the ideal duration to see Egypt’s essential sites without rushing: 5 days in Cairo covering the Pyramids, the GEM, Saqqara and Islamic Cairo at a comfortable pace; a 3-night Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor covering the river temples; and 4 nights on the Red Sea to recover. With 8 days you see the highlights. With 11 days you add a beach recovery. With 15 days you add depth — Abu Simbel, a Luxor evening, and the full Islamic Cairo experience — and you leave feeling you have truly understood Egypt rather than rushed through it. See our Egypt Itinerary 2026 guide for a comparison of all durations.

Is Abu Simbel worth the extra effort from Aswan?

Yes — unambiguously. Abu Simbel is the most visually dramatic ancient site in all of Egypt. The two temples of Ramesses II — carved directly into a Nubian sandstone cliff 3,200 years ago, relocated 65 metres uphill by UNESCO in the 1960s to save them from the rising waters of Lake Nasser — are routinely described by visitors as the most extraordinary thing they saw in Egypt, eclipsing even the Pyramids in impact. The temple interior’s painted reliefs are as vivid as the day they were painted. The four 20-metre seated statues of Ramesses II flanking the entrance are monumental beyond description. The early morning flight from Aswan (4:00 AM departure, back by noon) is entirely worth it. Most 8-day and 11-day Egypt packages do not include Abu Simbel. This 15-day tour does.

What is the difference between Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada for the beach extension?

Sharm El Sheikh sits on the Sinai Peninsula at the meeting point of the Gulf of Aqaba and the Gulf of Suez, with the clearest water and the most celebrated coral reefs in Egypt — visibility regularly exceeds 30 metres underwater. It also offers the unique combination of beach and sacred Sinai sites: St Catherine’s Monastery (the world’s oldest continuously operating Christian monastery, founded 565 AD) and Moses Mountain (Mount Sinai, where Moses received the Ten Commandments). Hurghada is more relaxed, more family-friendly, and easier to reach from Luxor by short flight. Both are excellent. This 15-day tour uses Sharm; our 11-day all-inclusive package uses Hurghada. Egypt For Travel can adapt either program to your preference.

What is the best time for Americans to visit Egypt?

October to April is ideal — temperatures of 18–28°C in Cairo and on the Nile, 22–26°C on the Red Sea. This covers the most popular American travel windows: US Thanksgiving (late November), Christmas, New Year, and spring break (March–April). The complete Best Time to Visit Egypt guide covers every month in detail. Summer (June–August) is hot — 38–42°C in Luxor and Aswan — but perfectly manageable with early morning starts and good planning, and prices are at their lowest.

Do I need a visa to visit Egypt from the USA?

American citizens can obtain a tourist visa on arrival at Cairo Airport for $25 USD — no advance application required. Alternatively, apply online at visa2.egypt.gov.eg for the e-visa ($25 single entry). Both are valid for 30 days. Full detail in our Egypt Visa Requirements 2026 guide. The Sinai Peninsula (Sharm El Sheikh) has a separate Sinai-only entry stamp available free of charge at Sharm Airport — however, as you are already travelling on a full Egypt visa from Cairo, no additional documentation is needed.